SBS World News Radio

Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has sat down with Federal Politics reporter Anna Henderson, where she was pressed on Canberra's position and whether Australia has any involvement in the escalating global conflict following the recent attacks on Iran. The Minister addressed questions about the legal justification for the strikes, Australia's role, and national security concerns as tensions continue to reverberate beyond the Middle East.

A First Nations advocate and activist for incarcerated women says the social contract between the Australian government and the community is broken. Tahlia Isaac, who founded 'Project:herSelf', says authorities are more interested in punishment than providing the conditions to keep people safe. She says the system needs to change and the government needs to start listening to women who have real insight into the cycle of incarceration.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Harry Murphy Cruise from Oxford Economics about the impact of the Middle East war on the Australian economy, even as GDP expands at its fastest rate in almost three years. Plus Niv Dagan from Peak Asset Management on the day's sharemarket news including the market's reaction to ARN Media's decision to pull the Kyle and Jackie O show.

United States President Donald Trump has lashed out at European allies for what he says is a lack of support on Iran. As diplomatic ties strain over the war, Iran says the time for negotiations has passed, warning Europe not to get involved.

Oil prices across the globe have surged to multi-year highs, as the war in Iran expands into a broader regional conflict. A prolonged war risks disrupting energy supply chains, particularly as key shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz are effectively closed. Analysts say impacts are already being felt - and that has implications for the global economic outlook and inflation.

Across Australia, for every dollar a man earns, women on average are earning 88- point- 8 cents. The government's gender equality agency says the gender pay gap has narrowed to 11. 2 per cent. And while most sectors have seen improvements, pay gaps remain large in some male-dominated industries, such as finance, construction and mining.

Australian leaders are condemning local mourning services for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking a fierce debate over national security and the limits of free expression.

At least 52 people have been killed and more than 150 injured in Lebanon, as Israel targets operations of the Iran-allied militant group Hezbollah, after it launched missiles and drones toward Israel.

As US President Donald Trump warns of a big wave of further attacks on Iran, the UN Security Council is under pressure to act over the US and Israel's strikes. Iran's U-N ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani says the strikes on the weekend were unlawful - a position shared by many international law experts globally. So what are the facts? Dr Tamer Morris is a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, and he's speaking with SBS reporter Rayane Tamer, who asked him what international law says about the Israeli/US strikes on Iran.

In his first address since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, Donald Trump says his war on Iran could last longer than anticipated. Spreading quickly throughout the region and rocking global financial markets, polls suggest most Americans are already opposed to the strikes.

One of the country's most commercially successful and globally recognised performers has been chosen to represent Australia at this year's Eurovision song contest in Vienna. Delta Goodrem will take centre-stage at the 70th edition of the contest. It's a milestone year for the competition, and one which has become clouded by controversy.

There is bipartisan support in Australian politics for a joint US-Israeli offensive dubbed 'Operation Epic Fury', despite warnings of a major breach of international law. While the government backs the action to prevent a nuclear Iran, critics and legal experts question the legality of the strikes and Australia's potential intelligence role.

As Iran vows revenge on the United States for toppling its leader and launching attacks that have killed civilians, President Donald Trump is warning there will be more American casualties. But as the United Nations chief condemns the move, there are questions over what legal and diplomatic consequences the US could face for initiating the attacks.

Experts are warning regime change in Iran will not be a simple matter, despite the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a strike over the weekend. Khamenei's death is far from the end of issues in in the international community surrounding Iran.

Iranian-Australians are expressing mixed emotions over the US-Israeli strikes in Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While many hope his death will lead to a free Iran, others say they don't believe that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have good intentions.

.Australian leaders have thrown their support behind the strikes on Iran amid reports Iran's supreme leader has been killed. For the second time in 12 months, the US and Israel have conducted co-ordinated strikes on Iran in what US President Donald Trump called a "massive and ongoing" operation to topple the Iranian administration.

Despite record numbers of displaced people worldwide, resettlement options are facing a critical decline - global impacts including shrinking legal pathways, slashing of admission numbers and funding cuts to agencies. But for the first time, a new community-led initiative will support LGBTIQ+ refugees to apply for Australia's humanitarian program - offering dedicated support for priority processing.

The US and Israel have launched an attack on Iran, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded with missile strikes across the region. Israel and the US say the objective of the operation is to put an end to the threat from the Ayatollah regime in Iran.

A new survey by financial comparison website CanStar has found that many Australian households are currently worried or have concerns about future energy bill payments as federal rebates run out this year. This is in addition to an underlying price increase in household electricity bills. Over the last month, they've risen by approximately 4.5% according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. CanStar's Data Insights Director, Sally Tindall spoke to SBS's Cameron Carr about what the latest data is showing.

Thousands have attended this year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, 48 years since the first gay rights parade in Australia in 1978. Australia's biggest celebration of the LGBTIQ-plus community took place days after an announcement that the historic parade route will be added to Australia's National Heritage List.

A hotline offering multi-lingual support for refugees who've fled war, violence and persecution has expanded nationwide. As global conflicts grind on, experts say demand is soaring. A warning: the following story contains details that may distress some listeners.

Fifteen years after a devastating earthquake in New Zealand left 185 people dead, scientists are on guard, ready to spot an impending disaster. In the control rooms at Earth Sciences New Zealand headquarters, seismologists are continuously analysing data from a network of 700 detectors looking for warning signs of an imminent quake.

Hear from Block CEO Jack Dorsey as he explains why the company is cutting nearly half of its workforce; SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Omkar Joshi from Opal Capital Management about the future of AI and the impact on stocks. Plus Australia Post CEO Paul Graham details the group's digital transformation plan as it records a fall in profit.

Mardi Gras is an occasion for celebration - a time to party for LGBTIQ+ communities. But Mardi Gras events can also invite risky behaviours. There are higher rates of substance use in LGBTIQ+ communities compared to the general population, coupled with a reluctance to seek help from healthcare professionals. Experts are calling for stronger investment in culturally safe care to improve access to appropriate support.

Political pressure is intensifying over the release of Jeffrey Epstein investigation files as Hillary Clinton appears before U-S leaders, and Democrats accuse the Justice Department of withholding key records.

The Australian government is reviewing its formal designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, following the expulsion of Iran's ambassador over allegations of foreign interference and state-sponsored violence. Testimony from experts and former detainees highlights a catastrophic human rights situation, including systematic repression of universities and a nationwide death toll reported to be in the tens of thousands.

With the Russian Army losing an estimated 30 to 50,000 ((30,000 to 50,000)) soldiers per month, Russia is reportedly using recruitment scams to lure in men from across Africa. Offered enticing salaries and told to sign a contract in Russian, officials say economic incentives and the exploitation of vulnerable people are driving recruitment.

Hear from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on why he thinks huge capital expenditure on AI technology will continue as SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Heath Moss from HLM Investments about the days market action including a recovery in tech stocks and a look at Qantas' half-year results. Plus Erin Kitson from S&P Global explains how borrowers are likely to cope with rising interest rates.

Can Ukraine hold the line as US support wavers going into a fifth year of fighting Russia's full-scale invasion? Plus, an explosion of violence in Mexico after the killing of brutal cartel boss ‘El Mencho' - will calm be restored in time for the World Cup? The US Supreme Court takes down Trump's tariffs and POTUS uses his high-stakes State of the Union address to accuse Somalis of fraud

As the United States amasses more warships and aircraft in the Middle East than the world has seen in decades, the possibility of a regional war appears ever-more threatening. There are fears the dispute between the two nations could flare up into a far-reaching conflict, on the eve of a third round of talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

The emergency evacuation of the Prime Minister from his Canberra home due to a targeted bomb threat has prompted warnings of a heightened security environment, where online hostility is increasingly manifesting as high-harm physical threats. It follows comments by the Federal Police Commissioner late last year, noting a trend of escalating violence against public officials.

For international students studying in Australia, accessing healthcare is often seen as too expensive - or too confusing to navigate. But a new initiative - designed by international students FOR international students - aims to make services easier to find, while breaking down taboos around sexual and mental health.

During the longest State of the Union address in history, United States President Donald Trump has declared the U-S is in its "golden era," with him at the helm. The almost two-hour long speech was filled with dramatic moments, as the President boasted about his successes and outlined his agenda for the coming year.

Hear from Wisetech CEO Zubin Appoo as he explains why 2000 jobs will go at the company as AI hits its workforce; SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Francesco De Stradis from Ord Minnett to find out the implications for the broader market; plus Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell on how the supermarket operator is winning back consumer trust.

Questions over the British Royal line of succession are emerging after the UK government pledged to introduce laws to remove ex-prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line. However, as the potential future King of 14 Commonwealth countries, the process to remove the former prince is not as simple as stripping his title.

As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year, international pressure is intensifying to end the conflict. The European Union is finalising its 20th sanctions package against Russia, while the United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed a resolution supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The Federal Government has moved to the next stage of Australia's inaugural high-speed rail project, launching a two-year development phase for the Sydney-to-Newcastle link. Construction is slated to begin in 2028. While the project faces a nearly $90 billion price tag and public scepticism over its long history of delays, proponents argue the 180-kilometre network will eventually transform regional housing and productivity across the entire East Coast.

Dr Jamal Rifi is an Australian doctor who has travelled to Syria to try and bring home a group of Australian women and children being held in an IS-group detention camp. The federal government has been adamant it will not help with the group's repatriation, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said any of those who do return will face charges if they are found to have broken Australian law. Dr Rifi has with him passports for the cohort of women and children which have been issued by Australian authorities. He also has another passport in his possession-- for an Australian man Yusuf Zahab, who was thought to be dead, until the SBS Dateline program revealed in 2024 he was alive and in a Syrian prison. Dr Jamal Rifi spoke with SBS Chief Political Correspondent Anna Henderson from an undisclosed location.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Mike Jenneke from UBS Wealth Management about the day's market action including investors' renewed AI fears; plus Stephanie Youssef talks with Jame Koval from ASFA to find out how much you need for a comfortable retirement.

Australians are being urged to reconsider travelling to Mexico after a deadly surge in cartel violence triggered by the killing of a notorious drug lord known as El Mencho. The leader of one of the country's largest cartels was fatally wounded during a military raid in Jalisco, sparking coordinated retaliatory attacks that have killed at least 25 members of Mexico's National Guard as well as several civilians.

The European Union has paused the ratification of a US-EU trade agreement after a US Supreme Court ruling and new tariff threats cast doubt on the deal. As Donald Trump threatens new sweeping tariffs, European politicians say they can't move forward until clarity is provided.

A Senate inquiry into housing affordability has heard urgent calls for tax reform, with advocates warning that current capital gains concessions favour wealthy investors while locking the younger generation out of the property market. The Australian Council of Trade Unions argues that reducing these tax breaks could boost home ownership by four per cent. The Grattan Institute maintains the primary benefit would be a $6.5 billion budget windfall to fund public housing and support struggling renters.

As Ukraine enters its fifth year of war, another round of talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine could be held at the end of this week. Ukraine, Russia and the United States have held several rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi and Geneva; as Washington seeks an end to four years of war since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion. But how close is a real peace deal?

Travel experts have raised concerns about new border rules for Australian travellers who hold dual British or Irish nationality. From February 25, dual citizens who can't present a valid British or Irish passport are at risk of being refused entry to the UK. The new regulations are causing widespread confusion, with many not even aware of their links to the country.

Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war shows no sign of abating, with mounting casualties, continued strikes on civilian infrastructure and faltering ceasefire efforts. As global tributes mark the February 24 anniversary, calls are growing for stronger international action to apply pressure to Russia and bring an end to Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

An armed man was shot and killed after breaching the security perimeter of United States President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. With the suspect now deceased and no motive established, the FBI says an active investigation is underway.

The first museum in New South Wales dedicated to the history of Chinese people in Australia has opened in the heart of Sydney's Chinatown. The Museum of Chinese in Australia [[MOCA]] dedicates its stories to some of Australia's earliest migrants - preserving Chinese history and culture in the country.

This week will mark four years since Russia began its full scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, experts say President Vladimir Putin has intensified efforts in his ongoing campaign to quash dissent and political opposition - many resistance leaders and activists inside Russia, jailed - or dead.

In turbulent political times, stability comes with four legs, whiskers and a fondness for napping. Larry the Cat has celebrated 15 years as the British government's official rodent-catcher and unofficial first feline, a reassuring presence who has served under six prime ministers.

The University of Melbourne Student Union is preparing to release the findings of its fourth report on racism on campus. The union's president, Lushy Chinganya, explains what it found and how it connects with the latest Human Rights Commission report on the same issue.

The Acknowledgement of Country has been translated into 40 languages as part of a project led by Dr Elaine Laforteza. She explains how it started and the vision for what comes next.